catching the last train after racing across a road illegally, bounding down an escalator and across half the station concourse trying one impassive fare gate after another (most of this accomplished in heels) gives one a sense of great relief and slight comedy which quickly becomes unabashed glee. at 11.50 we had broken up in different directions from opiume at the asian civilisations museum - cindy had to meet matt at the airport, and everyone else was in danger of missing their last bus or train connections. xinyi and i dashed for clarke quay station: true, it's quite a bit further than raffles place, but we thought we would be better off getting on the nel right away, that way we wouldn't risk missing the dhoby ghaut connection. we very nearly missed our train too, and in fact, thought we did, because all but one of the faregates were denying entry, and an annoucement that "the last train for harbourfront has departed" made our hearts sink. (xinyi said afterwards she was panicking so much she had an urge to scramble over the top of the fare gates) fortunately for us, the punggol train hadn't arrived. having a train does make me leave parties earlier. in the past, if i'm out with the girls i'm simply resigned to the fact that hougang is inaccessible and i'll be taking a cab, midnight surcharge and all, and so would sit on till 2 in the morning. now that i know i have a straight train home at less than a tenth of the cab fare i certainly try my best to get onto a train by midnight.

we celebrated cindy's birthday today at ricepaper at the esplanade. good vibes, and pretty good food. and there's a national day promotion going on now, which offered all our main courses at $9! then we presented cindy with our gifts: poach bought cindy a pair of earrings - tiny coil of gem flowers gleaming with a touch of purple, which went with what i got her - a two-toned purple/white silk shawl. addy, jia hui and xinyi got a yellow heart-shaped mogu cushion. (when i heard, i said, what? a mushroom? until someone tactfully pointed out that it was a brand name. *blush* suaku lah.) and an isetan voucher. "see that beautiful bag in it?" asked jia. and su-lin baked a surprise two-layered sourcream chocolate cake which was quite overwhelming and rich. i never cease to be impressed with su-lin's baking. and i thought to myself that it's been long since we chose our own gifts - most years now we just ask whoever's having a birthday to put out a wishlist. there're advantages to the wishlist approach, of course, and i suppose i prefer that, but i think i like the fun and sincerity of shopping for a special present to suit someone. and i suppose a personal relationship too. i was just thinking that i used to give poach a book every year and know i can expect one from her, and can trust her taste to be similar to mine, and to look forward to being introduced to a new author. books, i feel, gave a special definition to our friendship, and i think that personal element is missing when i simply chip in towards a memory card for her camera or ask the girls for a wireless router.

proceeded to opiume for drinks, taking a comfortable stroll down to one fullertion and then across to the acm, where stories are swapped about love interests and embarrassing gaffs and mostly resolutely refusing to talk about work.

i love being out with the girls - at least, my girlfriends are quirky, frivolous, and delightfully tactless. and the alcohol is starting to get to my head i shall to bed. to be continued...